Choosing and Using an External Evaluator

Conclusion

Most evaluations of HIV education programs are undertaken to help decision makers improve the program. The relationship between the evaluation committee and the external evaluator must thus be viewed as a functional partnership. An effective functional partnership is founded on agreement over the objectives of the evaluation, an understanding of the responsibilities and authority of each partner, and mutual respect for the contributions that each partner provides to the evaluation. Your committee must have ultimate responsibility for the program's evaluation, and the evaluator, as a partner, should function as an advisor and staff person to you. Selecting an appropriate evaluator will largely depend upon your committee's specificity in identifying the evaluation tasks to be performed, the effort you put into the selection process, and the extent and quality of your interaction with the evaluator in the development and implementation of the evaluation. If the steps identified in this booklet are followed, the evaluation process should be enjoyable and productive for both the evaluation committee and the external evaluator.